Valve mechanism



July 1, 1930.

F. D. HOLDSWOR'H I VALVE MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 31, 1925 PatentedJuly 1, 1930 seine FRED D. HOLDSlK ORTI-I, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE,ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A GOBPORATICN OF MASSACHUSETTSVALVE MECHANISM Application filed December 31, 1923, Serial No. 683,605.

This invention relates to valve mechanism.

It has for an object to provide an improved valve mechanism. A furtherobject is to provide an improved plate valve mechanism which provides anunusually large inlet or discharge area. Another object is to provideimproved plate valve mechanism in which the movement of the plate valvecan be exceedingly small, but which will nevertheless provide ampledischarge area. Another obj ect is to provide improved valve mechanismin which a plurality of plate valves may be used and operated inangularly disposed planes. v

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustrationone form which my invention may assume in practice. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view partially broken away 20 to show details ofconstruction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 2 and on line3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a plate valve used in the illustrative form ofmy invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan and side elevational view 30 of a valve spring whichmay be used in cooperation with the plate valve of Fig. 5.

In my improved valve mechanism I propose to use a plurality of platevalves disposed in diflerent angular planes and in a common cage member,thus making a very compact device. To accomplish this I have shown forpurposes of illustration one embodiment of my invention which comprisesa base 1 having an annular flange 2. Disposed in the base 1 are spacedlongitudinal rib-like members 3; and valve seats 5 are formed on theupper surfaces of said'members. The spacing of these members 3 resultsin upwardly extending passages 4 being formed between or beside them.Transverse strengthening ribs 6 connect the various ribs 3 and flange 2.Ports 8 are formed between the members 3 so as to constitutecontinuations of the passages 4. The rib-like mem- 5 hers 3 are hollow,with open tops, as is made Renewed October 29, 1929.

clear by Fig. 2. From Figs. 8 and 4 (noting particularly where thesesections are taken) it will be understood that transversely disposedports 7 project inwardly from each of the passages 4. Vertical valveseats 9 are formed in the interior of the rib-like members 8 surroundingthe ports 7 V and extend, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, between oppositeinner points of the annular flange 2. The base 1 may be seated in acylinder 12 by any suitable means (see Fig. 3), herein shown as ashoulder 13 formed in the periphery of the annular flange 2.

The valves for covering the horizontal valve seats 5 comprise a singlecircular resilient plate 14 having parallel slots 15 leaving the strips17 in between. Thus,these valve portions 17 when placed upon the uppersurface of the base 1 will cover the various ports 8 while the openings15 leave ampleroom for discharge through the ports 7. The circular plate14, and consequently the valves 17 is held in position by a transverselyflexed spring 19 with its end portions slightly upwardly curved, whichin turn is held in position by a cover 20 having a depending annularportion 21 adapted to seat adjacent the upper circular edge of the base1- and which is held in fixed relation thereto. Any suitable means maybe used for holding the cover 20 and base 1 in fixed relation, suchmeans herein shown as bolts 23 screw threaded into the base 1. It is notthought necessary to describe the details of the clamping structure forholding the elements of the valve mechanism in assembled relation on theshoulder 13 of the cylinder, as it is of a well known type. The cover 20is spaced from the surface 5 and has openings 24 therein for allowingflow of fluid from the ports 7 and 8. The spring 19 is disposed withinthis space and held in coaxial relation with respect to the valve as bydepending lugs 25, the outer surfaces of which are'curved to fit theinner edge of the spring 19. The lugs 25 are also adapted to assist inguiding the valve 14, these lugs projecting downwardly within thecentral opening 15 and seating upon the upper surface 01' the base 1.

I a leans for closing the ports 7 comprise re silient plate valves 26and as shown in Fig. 1 a single transversely curved spring 27 is used toseat the pair of opposed plate valves 26 disposed over the opposed valveseats 9. Thus, the central portion of the spring 26 engages the lefthand valve while the outer en s of the same engage the right hand valve.

In the operation of my device it will of course be understood that myvalve as shown can be used either as an inlet or exhaust valve and whenused in either manner fluid will flow through passages 4, and valves 17and 26 will be opened in accordance with the amount of fluid flowthrough the passages 4. It will be readily seen that the distance thevalves 17 and 26 move will not be as great in order to allow a givenamount of fluid flow as'though only valves in a single plane .wereusedand hence my improved construction permits a very rapid action ofthe valve and a large flow of fluid therethrough without producing anyhammering action or other isadvantages that are inherent with valvesthatmovea great distance from their seats. It willbeseen that uponremoval of the valve mechanism from the cylinder 12, the variousplate'tvalvesca'n be maintained in their seated positions without thenecessity of any special mutations to prevent the various membersrom'separating.

While I have in this application specificallyidescribed one form whichmy invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis formof the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the inventionma: be modified and embodied in other forms wit out departing from itsspirit or the scope of the. appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, aplurality of said seats being disposed substantially in a common planeand another of said seats being disposed in a plane angularly disposedwith respect to said common plane, thev port which traverses the valveseat in the angularly disposed plane being so located that theprojection on said common plane of every point in said it whichtraverses the valve seat in the an'gu arly disposed plane lies withinthe con fines of said plurality of seats, and plate valves cooperatingwith said seats for controlling Ifluid flow through said ports.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, aplurality of said seats being disposed substantially in a common planeand another of said seats being disposed in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to said common plane, the port which traverses the valveseat in the substantially perpendicular plane being so located that theprojection on said common plane of every point in said port whichtraverses the valve seat in said substantially perpendicular plane lieswithin the confines of said plurality of seats, and plate valvescooperating with said seats for controlling fluid flow through saidports.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a cage member having one short dimensionand two relatively long dimensions, said cage member being provided withplane valve seats traversed by ports communicating with a com mon sourceof fluid, a plurality of said seats being disposed in planes angularlydisposed with respect to the plane of said two relatively longdimensions and having their ports so disposed that a common planeparallel to the plane of said two relatively long dimensions will cutall of them, and another of said seats being disposed in a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of said two relatively longdimensions, and plate valves cooperating with said seats for controllingfluid flow through said ports.

4. A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, apair of said seats and a third seat being disposed in substantiallyparallel planes with said pair of seats facing each other and said thirdseat disposed adjacent said air of seats and facing away from said pairof seats, a fourth of said plane valve seats being disposed in a planeangularly disposed with respect to said parallel planes, the porttraversing said last mentioned seat being disposed between the plane ofthe third seat and the nearer plane of the two in which lie said pair ofseats, and plate valves cooperating with said four seats.

5. A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, apair of said seats and a third seat being disposed in substantiallyparallel planes with said pair of seats facing each other and said thirdseat disposed adjacent said pair of seats and facing away from said pairof seats, a fourth of said plane valve seats being disposed in a planeangularly disposed with respect to said parallel planes, the porttraversing said last mentioned seat being disposed on the farther sideof the farther plane from said third seat of the two in which lie saidpair of seats, and plate valves cooperating with said four seats.

6. A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, apair of said seats be ing disposed in substantially parallel planes andfacing each other, a third of said plane valve seats being disposed in aplane angula rly disposed with respect to said parallel planes, the porttraversing said last men tioned seat being disposed outside the pair ofplanes in which lie said pair of seats, and plate valves cooperatingwith said three seats.

7. A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, apair ofsaid seats being disposed in substantially parallel planes withsaid pair of seats facing each other, a third of said seats beingdisposed in a plane angularly disposed with respect to said pair ofplanes, the port traversing said third seat being disposed outside thepair'ol planes in which he said pair of seats, a fourth of said seatsbeing disposed in a plane angularly disposed with respect to said pairoi planes, the port traversing said fourth seat being disposed on theopposite side of said pair of planes from the port traversing said thirdseat, and plate valves cooperating with said four seats.

8. A valve mechanism comprising a base member provided with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source offluid, aplurality of said seats being disposed substantially in a common planeand a plurality of said seats being disposed in planes angularlydisposed with respect to said common plane, the ports traversing thevalve seats in the angularly dis posed planes being so located that thepro jection on said common plane or every point in said ports whichtraverse the valve seats in the angularly disposed planes lies withinthe confines of the seats disposed in said common plane, and platevalves cooperating with said seats for controlling fluid flow throughsaid ports. 1

9. A valve mechanism comprising a base member provided with plane valveseats traversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, aplurality of said seats being disposed substantially. in a common planeand a plurality of said seats being disposed in planes angularlydisposed with respect to said common plane, the ports'traversing thevalve seats in the angular'ly disposed planes being so located that theprojection on said common plane of every point in said ports whichtraverse the valve seats in the angularly disposed planes lies withinthe confines of the seats disposed in said common plane, and platevalves cooperating with said seats for controlling fluid flow throughsaid ports, certain of said angularly disposed plate valves beingmovable in the same direction during opening.

10. A valve mechanism comprising a base member having plane valve seatstraversed by ports, a plurality of said seats beingdisposedsubstantially in acommon plane and a plurality of said seatsbein disposed in planes angularly disposed with respect to said I commonplane, a pair of said last mentioned seats facing each other, a singleplate valve for covering said seats 1n sald common plane,

and separate valves cooperating with said seat, and a valve elementcooperating with said supplemental valve seat, the port of saidsupplemental valve seat being angularly disposed with respect'to thedirectionof movement of said single valve structure.

12. A valve mechanism comprising a base member provided with plane valveseats traversed by ports, a single plate valve cooperating with andcovering a plurality of said seats, others of said plane valve seatsbeing disposed in planes angular-1y disposed with respect to the planeof said plate valve, plate valves cooperatin with said seats in theangularly disposed planes, each of said last mentioned valvescooperating with but a single seat, and means cooperating with saidseveral valves for guiding each of the same to move bodily rectilinearlyfrom its seat.

1.3. A valve mechanism comprising a cage member having plane valve seatstraversed by ports communicating with a common source of fluid, aplurality of said seats being disposed in substantially parallel planesand being alined in pairs which face each other,

another of said plane valve seats being disposed in a plane angular-1ydisposed with respect to said parallel planes, a valve membercooperating with said last mentioned valve seat, pairs of plate valvescooperatingwith said pairs of alined valve seats, and valve seatingspring means interposed between each pair of plate valves.

l l, A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with a pluralityof inlet passages, said base member having plane valve seats traversedby ports communicating with said inlet passages, certain of said portsextending as continuations of said passages and in alinement therewithso that fluid flow through said passages and alined ports takes placewithoutchange of direction, the valve seats traversed by said alinedports being aranged in the same or parallel planes, others of said valveseats facing each other and being arranged in planes disposedperpendicularly with respect to the plane of a seat traversed by analined port.

15, A valve mechanism comprising a base member formed with plane valveseats traversed by ports, one of said ports being arranged to conductfluid'in the same direction as the initial direction of flow of saidfluid into the valve mechanism, a plurality of said valve seats beingdisposed in planes angularly disposed with respect to the plane in whichthe valve seat traversed by said last mentioned port is disposed, andseparate plate valves cooperating with said valve seats for controllingfluid flow through said ports, certain of the separate valves whichcooperate with valve seats in the angularly disposed planes beingsimultaneously movable toward each other during opening while the platevalve cooperating with the valve seat traversed by the port arranged toconduct fluid in the same direction as the initial direction of flow ofsaid fluid into the valve mechanism is movable in a different direction.

16. A valve mechanism comprising a base member having a plurality ofpassages extending in substantially parallel directions, and eachopening into a port at its end and into lateral ports, and valvescooperating withsaid orts for controlling fluid flow thrbugh saidpassages.

17. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a. base com rising a pluralityof spaced ribs, the space etween a pair of adjacent ribs having theoutlet therefrom formed as a port, said ribs having fluid passages, eachage having a port, a valve cooperating with said first mentioned port tocontrol flow of fluid through said space between a pair of adjacentribs, and valve means cooperating with said last mentioned ports tocontrol flow of fluid through said passages.

18. In combination in a valve mechanism, a comprising a plurality ofspaced substantially parallel ribs having fluid passages formed therein,the spaces between said ribs having the outlets therefrom formed asports, each of said rib passages having a port, and separate valve meanscovering the ports of stud spaces and the ports of said passages.

19. In combination in a valve mechanism, a comprising a plurality ofspaced substantially parallel straight ribs having fluid passages formedtherein, the space between a pair pf adjacent ribs having the outlettherefrom formed as a port, each of said rib passages having a port, avalve cooperating with said first mentioned port to control flow offluid through said space between a pair of adjacent ribs, and valvemeans disposed within said passages for controlling flow of fluidthrough the ports thereof.

20. A valve mechanism comprising a base provi d with valve seatstraversed by ports, the directions of flow through a pair of said portsbeing opposed and the valve seats traversed by said pair of ports beingopposed, a plurality of said valve seats being traversed y ports forconducting fluid in a direction at a an angle to the directions of flowthrough said opposed valve seats, a single valve structure covering saidplurality of valve seats traversed by ports for conducting fluid in anangular direction, plate valves covering the ports of said 0 posedseats, and a common means for holding to said opposed seats the platevalves cooperating therewith.

21. A valve mechanism comprising a, base member having ports opening insubstantially parallel directions, a generally annular flat plate valvefor controlling fluid flow through said ports, additional ports formedin said member and opening in directions angularly disposed with respectto the directions of opening of said first mentioned ports, saidadditional ports and said first mentioned ports communicating with acommon source of fluid, and plate valves for controlling fluid flowthrough said additional ports, said additional ports and the platevalves cooperating therewith being disposed Within the radial limits ofsaid general annular plate valve.

22. A valve mechanism comprising a member having a plurality of slots inone side thereof, a plurality of passages extending entirely throughsaid member and on opposite sides of said slots, transverse portsconnecting said slots and passages, plate valves adapted to control flowof fluid through said ports, and a plate valve seated on the sur face ofsaid member containing said slots for controlling flow of fluid throughsaid passages.

23. A valve mechanism comprising a member having a plurality of slots inone side thereof, a plurality of passages extending entirely throughsaid member and on opposite sides of said slots, transverse portsconnecting said slots and passages, plate valves adapted to control flowof fluid from said ports, a plate valve seated on the surface of saidmember containing said slots for controlling flow of fluid through saidpassages, and a single spring means cooperating with said latter valve.

24. A valve mechanism comprising a cage member having one shortdimension and two relatively long dimensions, said cage member beingprovided with plane ported valve seats disposed in planes angularlydisposed with respect to the plane of said two relatively longdimensions and having their ports so disposed that a common planeparallel to the plane of said two relatively long dimensions will cutall of them, said cage member being formed with a bypass interposedbetween certain of said ports for passing additional fluid through saidcage member, a valve for controlling said bypass, and valve members forcontrolling fluid flow through said ports.

25. A valve mechanism comprising a cage member having one shortdimension and two relatively long dimensions, said cage member beingprovided with plane ported valve seats,

a plurality of said seats being disposed in planes perpendicular to theplane of said two relatively long dimensions and so alined that a commonplane parallel to the plane of said two relatively long dimensions willcut all of the ports thereof, a plurality of said seats being disposedin a plane or planes substantially parallel to said common plane cuttingsaid ports, and valve members for controlling fluid flow through theports of the valve seats disposed in the perpendicular and parallelplanes, certain of the valve members cooperating with the valve seats inthe perpendicular planes moving toward each other in opening.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRED D. HOLDSWORTH.

